I don’t know where Abe Margallo got this idea of ascribing “isms” with Noynoy, even describing him as a Pinoy version of an Obama, or “Socratic” just because he graduated from Ateneo? That’s the problem with Filipinos—we like to go beyond the obvious. We like to describe people based on Western personality models. I find nothing Obamanesque with Noynoy nor does he look or sound like a Socrates, except maybe they have the same hair style.
When Noynoy declared his candidacy, there was no rejoicing in the streets. We saw nothing or even a semblance of the feelings we felt when Cory declared her candidacy against Macoy. In fact, when ABS-CBN DZMM conducted POS (people on the street) interviews, even first time voters are saying that they’re not going to vote for him. Even these young voters say Noynoy is still “hilaw”.
And that’s the thing—we Filipinos are looking for a Bonifacio to rouse our nationalist feelings. We are also looking for a Benigno Aquino who fuses religious symbolisms with nationalism in his speeches. And we are actually on the lookout for a Manuel Roxas or a Ramon Magsaysay who exemplified strong leaderships.
We have been looking for this one singular personality for so long and looking at the wrong places that we find ourselves settling with the lesser evil or the one who is still not yet ready to hold the mantle of leadership for change.
And the reason is simple—people are not fools. They know that Noynoy Aquino and all the rest of these candidates belong to the elite classes. Erap, for all his claims, was born a cono. Chiz Escudero, for all the claims of his supporters, was also born with a proverbial silver spoon in his mouth. Same goes to Villar, the worst of the lot, because he spends so much and expects so much in return. I don’t need to describe Defense secretary Gilbert Teodoro because everybody knows he’s no Magsaysay.
The only one capable of claiming that he belonged to the masses is Noli de Castro. De Castro, as we know, was born of humble beginnings and struggled hard to get the status he so enjoys today. If we believe in what Erap says about this fight as “masa versus elite”, then, Noli deserves to lead the masa fight instead of him who belongs to the traditional elite oppositionist ranks, the same category of Noynoy’s.
And this is a very serious concern. This early, we are creating myths about Noynoy, that Noynoy is this and Noynoy is that. Why not accept Noynoy as what he is—a member of the elite, someone who deins saying what he stands for except for this terse description of his struggle as ” a continuance of the legacy of my parents” and a responsible individual especially to his nephew.
The danger of over-imagining what Noynoy is and what Noynoy stands for is we are creating problems for ourselves. What if Noynoy is really not the one who deserves to lead us? These myths are hiding those flaws which we need to know so that we can render an intelligent vote in the 2010 elections.
Popularity: 1% [?]
Eh, Pat, sino nga? Ayoko ke Noli, patangay-tangay lang sa agos.
bert,
bakit hindi idaan sa people’s primaries? yun ang problema—ayaw dumaan sa demokratikong proseso ang mga kandidato.
People’s primaries?
You’re cherry picking Pat. Haven’t I compared Noynoy with Ninoy and benignO too?
Unless you’ve missed it, the hairstyle comparison was intended (my apology to Noynoy and his fans).
I assure you I do know how elitism has hurt our country so much. But your alternative is not YET on my radar now. I’m simply giving peace a chance.
I’m not sure if it’s the lack of imagination or a case of narrative fallacy why Noynoy supporters want him to run for the top job. What is their basis for saying he is the right man? I don’t know Noynoy but what I do know is that, he wasn’t really planning on running until he received such impassionate pleas from the Aquino supporters after the death of his mother.
Do Filipinos want a monarchy or a democracy? Noynoy’s situation is no different from a King’s son inheriting the throne at such a premature age because of the sudden death of his father and he’s got no clue what to do. Let’s just hope and pray you’re right Mr Mangubat when you say that the majority of the people are not fools.
Anong ‘monarchy’ ang pinagsasabi mo? Kaya nga may eleksyon eh…
Pero gusto ng Aquino supporters Aquino na naman ang umupo. I can see that he will win but I am hoping I am wrong.
As long as he is legitimately elected, it’s not a ‘monarchy’. Please get your definitions right.
You don’t get me. The people are hypnotised by the Aquino “days of our lives” saga. They are always in the media. They think that since Noynoy is the “son” he is the rightful ruler – heir to the throne. Read: kahit wala pang eleksyon, panalo na! But I’m hoping I am wrong :o)
ilda,
kakandidato naman si noynoy. taong bayan naman ang didiskarte. napaka elitista mo naman para isipin na ang taong bayan ay tanga kung pipiliin nila si noynoy
You don’t get me either. He wasn’t planning on running in the presidential race. They begged him to run. He had to go on a retreat to think about running remember? And he is being played out in the media as a messiah already; the chosen one who will unite everyone = Narrative Fallacy. If you are exposed to the media the way the Aquinos are, you can win the election too.
And from the sound of it, I think you are one of those who are charmed by the fairy tale. I see a lot of educated people who are already swearing on voting for him on social networking sites despite the lack of platform. So I’m not just talking about the masa here when I say the people are hypnotized by the Aquino clan.
Ilda,
“the chosen one who will unite everyone = Narrative Fallacy. ”
that’s not a Narrative Fallacy that’s a Campaign Line.
Why are you so angered by Noynoy’s candidacy? And equally angry at those who support him? Sino ba ang gusto mo?
I am not angry at Noynoy. I am not even angry at those who support him. What I want to know is why? Why force him when he wasn’t even planning on running? It was so obvious that a lot of people were just moved by the passing of his mother. Why do they think that he has the capacity to unite just because he is reluctant and just because his last name is Aquino?
After the election, people will go back to living their lives but expect miracles from whoever is sitting in Malacanang. If there is no personal accountability from each and every individual, things will not change. One person cannot do it all.
I don’t even know how he is going to solve the issue of over-population which is the number one problem in the country. This will be tricky for him because he is so close to the Catholic church.
Patricio,
Why are you preaching class warfare? Is the Philippine society static, is there no upward mobility?
Where do you think all those villages around Greenhills sprouted from, where all those middle class developments in Calabarzon come from, where all those low and mid-price condos come from?
The phenomenon we see around metro Manila is being repeated all over the country, Did they come from the loins of the pre-WWII elite? Or did they come from the lower classes.
Go to any of the new sports clubs, who are the members? Even in the Polo Club, Chinese and Pilipino is now the lingua franca.
Check out the “exclusive” private schools. There used to be only Ateneo, La Salle, San Beda, and Letran for boys. Assumption, St Scholastica, Sta Teresa, Maryknoll, and St Paul for the girls. Now look. The children of those who used to go to Catholic schools are in international schools which have sprouted like mushrooms and those catholic schools are not exclusive anymore. There was a time when everybody knew everybody in those schools, meaning students were second or third generation so their parents knew each other, it was like family. Not anymore.
My point is the elite has grown geometrically. The faces are different. The pre-WWII elite couldn’t keep prosperity to themselves. The circle of elites has grown. Having said that I don’t deny that the number of poor has also increased.
But a class struggle analysis of the Philippine situation is wrong. Philippine oligarchy of today is not the same landowning oligarchy of years past. The new oligarchy is made up of industrialists, businessmen, and crooks who made a lot of money in jueteng, smuggling, kickbacks and all that.
We cannot move forward basing our decisions on a flawed analytical framework. Individual merit not class membership is what matters most.
Tumpak. Etong si Pat puro emosyon pinaiiral eh.
Eh, MB pagagaya gaya lang sa mga rich ang mga middle class na ito. Alam ko yan at matagal na akong galit sa mga yan. Hinuhugasan lang nila kasalanan ng mga oligarch.
“Individual merit not class membership is what matters most.”
Have you noticed every “successful” person and group try to insulate themselves from competition like the old rich? And these methods of insulating themselves–snobbery, nepotism, over-promoting their own “accomplishments”–actually work.
As I wrote on Abe’s parallel blog:
Abe,
I like Socrates, pronounced So-crates by Bill and Ted in that intellectual masterpiece of a generation ago, “Bill and Ted’s Excellent Adventures”. So-crates made a good question go a long way.
I have not seen Mr. Aquino’s speech, as I am currently without boob tube and have a really slow internet connection. Smart’s line is rather, ummmm, . . . lacking in whiz. But my reaction to your extracted quotes is:
(1) His Mindanao answer lacked clear-eyed wisdom, as if in his entire term in the legislature he had never given it one iota of thought; this notion of lets just talk about it lacks direction, (2) his obsession with Marcos’ wealth is fine, but what about all the regular people who are now locked out of the courts and police offices because of filing fees, and what about those horrendous delays in so many courts nationwide; why is he interested in justice first and foremost for the “name” case?, and (3) his economic concern about efficiency and maximizing resources is so apple pie that I got a tooth ache.
Now, I give him a little wiggle room because this is all new to him. But how much better if instead of spending a quiet few days mulling over his courage, he had spent it working with experts to hammer out some positions.
My early sense – easily wrong – is that this is not a very productive or profound guy . . . He seems all character, no output. In other words, no hope for a dynamic Philippines . . .
I have not shut the door on him, but I hear a creaking noise . . . and it is not my knees.
Joe
I think this Noynoy thing has demonstrated another of our culture’s weaknesses – the personality cult. Still too much interest on the person, and not on the ideas and principles.
People are now too much disappointed with the term called Hope.
They look for a likely good candidate. Replaces the old with
the new. It turns out the new is the same. If not worse like
when Gloria Arroyo replaced Erap Estrada.
We are putting too much of our time on these political clowns. They
are all the same. As if our future is on their hands. Once they will
be elected. It will be “fiesta” again for them and their “asungot”.
If you are an oldtimer Nagueno (Naga City resident, Camarines Sur) this one will break Pat’s heart.
Mayor Medroso of Canaman, a town adjacent to Naga City has been a perennial Mayor of that town and he does not know how to read and write. He was not involved in jueteng and has a small rice mill.
What made him tick is is accessibility to his constituents and a patient hearing ears of those who have complaints. Ttil that’s why the electorate of t his unremarkable town kept electing him to office until he died. That was in 70′s.
Another is Councilor de Asis of Naga City. His constituents kept electing him as councilor every election. He has not authored a principal city ordinance. He is not eloquent and showed no brilliance. What made him tick is is ability to go to every funeral of a Nagueno who died and if he could not personally come he would send his two passenger jeepney to help the mourners to bury their dead.
The effective leader for me is one who is accessible to his people and has a compassionate heart and an enduring ability to listen to the plaints of his people. And these are not the bright and eloquent politicians with impeccable credentials who are detached from their people by because of the cordon sanitaire and by the security apparatus and a retinue of sycophants that whisper every inanities on his degenerating ears.
We should stop looking for messiahs.
Our salvation is within each of us.
Sinuman ang Pangulo kung iaasa natin ang kinabukasan natin sa gobyerno, sa pulitiko, nahetot na tayo.
SS ang tunay ns kailangan…
@ JCC:
You said:
“The effective leader for me is one who is accessible to his people and has a compassionate heart and an enduring ability to listen to the plaints of his people. And these are not the bright and eloquent politicians with impeccable credentials who are detached from their people by because of the cordon sanitaire and by the security apparatus and a retinue of sycophants that whisper every inanities on his degenerating ears.”
I believe you 100%. We need people in government who can little to the please of the smallest and to the grunts of the hungry.
But please don’t mess the argument up. We are talking of NATIONAL ELections here, not of LOCAL candidates. We are talking about 300,000 sq.km. of our country. National issues is NOT SIMILAR to local issues both in complexity and number. Listening to problems, and going to funerals, is for your local candidate, not for your presidency.
If we follow the path between your lines, why not re-elect ERAP into Malacanang. He seems to say that he is pro-poor, that he lsitens to the plea of the masses.
And by the way, your councilor-example is also an example of the very thing we want to erase ing government: patron-client relationship. Does that ring a bell?
only shows your basic erroneous concept that ERAP is pro-poor. distributing food for flood victims and empty pro-poor platitudes does not make one pro-poor.
listening to the plaints of the people and acting on them is hardly my concept of patron-client relationship you detest. it is participatory democracy where the people are still listened to by their leaders and not those few surrogates and relatives that surround them.